Top Highlights From RAGBRAI 2023: One “L” of a Ride

This July, thousands of cyclists traversed the entire state of Iowa in the 50th edition of RAGBRAI. The seven-day bicycle tour has been a longstanding Midwestern tradition and can now claim it’s been around for the better part of a century. ROKFORM couldn’t stay away from the fun and sent one of our own to join the party on two wheels. Keep reading to find out the highlights from RAGBRAI 2023 and the equipment that kept me pedaling strong all week long.

ROKFORM leads the pack when it comes to protective phone cases and useful mounts. Designed for an active lifestyle, ROKFORM phone cases for Apple and Samsung models work with our bicycle phone mounts so you can keep your device secure whenever you ride. Choose between the Pro Series Stem Mount and Handlebar Mount to easily access your phone’s functions when biking, all while freeing up precious pocket space.

Earlier this summer, we kicked off the RAGBRAI 2023 blog series in preparation for the special edition of the ride. I explained the long history of RAGBRAI behind this classic event and shared training tips for RAGBRAI to ensure you’re in good shape— remember that Iowa has hills! 

Each year, the RAGBRAI route stretches from the Missouri River on the eastern side of Iowa and finishes on the Mississippi River on the opposite edge of the state. For the uninitiated, RAGBRAI stands for the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.

This year’s ride marked the 50th anniversary of RAGBRAI making 2023 a special year! That significant milestone meant the event was even bigger than usual and attracted many newcomers to join the celebration. The map even followed the original route completed by the pair of RAGBRAI co-founders in 1973. This explains the start town being Sioux City leading to Storm Lake as the first night’s end town.

RAGBRAI L rolled along through high mileage days, rural Iowa towns, and fun overnight campsites. The crowds were larger than any riders had ever seen, and the positive atmosphere was contagious amid the small town stops and bigger cities.

I’ve never seen so many people on bikes. Before the ride even started, RAGBRAI organizers reported that more than 28,000 participants had signed up, including single-day riders. The largest expected crowd— approaching 60,000 riders— came on Wednesday, July 26, traveling from Ames to Des Moines, two of the state’s biggest cities. To add to the fun, there were live music concerts each night in the overnight towns and unique experiences like riding through the Jack Trice Stadium, home of the Iowa State Cyclones!

I made the last minute decision while packing to not bring my portable Bluetooth speaker, and that may have been a mistake. Blasting tunes during the day can be a great way to stay motivated without using dangerous (and sometimes illegal) earphones while riding a bike. Many RAGBRAI riders came equipped with compact (but often huge) speakers to keep the party going all day long.

Riders can easily control their playlists by mounting their phone to their handlebars with ROKFORM accessories. Fussing around inside pockets can lead to distracted riding or dropping your device, but the ROKFORM Sport Series Bike Phone Mount keeps your smartphone securely placed, even over big bumps. The strong, adjustable Velcro strap fits along any handlebar or stem, and the mount is compatible with all twist-lock ROKFORM protective phone cases.

Learn more about the ROKFORM Sport Series Handlebar Phone Mount below!

RAGBRAI L will be remembered for years to come as one of the most difficult editions in recent memory. Veterans and riders who participated in the past reported that this year’s conditions were harder than normal, featuring a relatively hilly route, strong headwinds, and some serious heat. Glaring sun warmed up the highway asphalt (we stayed off the bike trail) while some cloud cover offered occasional respite. The wind blew almost all week and introduced a tricky tradeoff, keeping us cooler than we would be otherwise while headwinds slowed our pace.

Nevertheless, a plentiful supply of Iowa summer staples such as ice cream and homemade pie kept riders fueled and cooled despite the high temperatures. Official food vendors and amateur lemonade stands at the side of the road were the lifeline of tired, thirsty riders all week long.

I could easily monitor the weather and track each day’s ride because I kept my phone within reach on a ROKFORM Pro Series Stem Mount. The low-profile stem mount replaces the headset that’s the perfect placement to access your phone’s functions without disrupting the bike’s aesthetics. This made it easily to frequently take photos or observe maps, all while freeing up jersey pocket space. The mount is built from durable aircraft-grade aluminum with ROKFORM’s dual retention system that’s compatible with any of our Rugged or Crystal Series phone cases.

The week’s challenging weather reached a climax in Coralville on the evening of Friday, July 28. The suburb of Iowa City hosted the last of the overnight stays before the ride to Davenport the following day, but it also welcomed in a huge, ominous storm. As riders settled in to listen to the headlining band at the concert area, the town siren blared, and an announcer cautioned everyone to take shelter inside the local high school nearby.

The sky turned black within minutes, and the wind speed picked up. Rain came, and my father and I decided to make a final run to our tent to flatten it, preventing our large tent from flying away in the high winds. Despite our honest efforts, we would pay for that bit of cautious thinking later on. The storm never truly hit, passing by away from town, but heavily drenched the entire campsite.

We had put on our tent’s rain fly, so we’re okay, right? Wrong. The rain fly had folded over in the wind, letting gallons of rainwater into our tent to soak our apparel and gear! Saved by my still packed (and dry) sleeping bag, we bailed out the tent, rung out some clothing the best we could, and went to bed. The authentic RAGBRAI veterans will remember Soggy Monday of 1981 and Saggy Thursday in 1995— well, my dad and I had a very Soggy Saturday (morning) getting out of that damp tent.

One important piece of gear I made sure to protect from the wet, however, was my smartphone. I’m still rocking an iPhone 6S (I know, that’s old-school) but, thankfully, I can still use the newest ROKFORM Bike Phone Mounts because of the Universal Adapter. The slim accessory securely adheres to the back of my case and features a strong magnet and twist-lock system that are compatible with the Stem Mount, Handlebar Mount, or any of ROKFORM’s other mounts for cars and motorcycles.

Have an older phone, tablet, or different Android phone? Use the ROKFORM Universal Adapter for the ability to mount to any ROKFORM twist-lock or magnetic accessory!

Cyclists can secure their phone with ROKFORM phone mounts designed specifically for bikes. The Pro Series Stem Mount installs directly into the headset for a streamlined and safe solution, made from aircraft-grade aluminum with ROKFORM’s twist-lock and magnetic retention system. The ROKFORM Handlebar Mount can be placed on either the handlebars or stem and is easy to remove when changing bikes.

ROKFORM phone cases for Apple and Samsung protect your device and are compatible with our high-quality bike mounts. Simply twist the case onto the mount for a connection that will stay firmly in place, even when mountain biking or riding over big bumps. When you’re off the bike, the cases’ premium construction and reinforced corners provide up to 6 feet of drop protection.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary, RAGBRAI 2023 measures 500 miles long. It takes place over seven days of riding in the last week of July, this year happening from July 22-29.

ROKFORM specializes in rugged smartphone accessories for cyclists, golfers, drivers, and more. ROKFORM products were crucial to keeping our devices secure during RAGBRAI 2023. Pick out your favorite gear with Samsung Galaxy cases, sturdy bike mounts, and other cycling essentials for the summer months.

Have questions about which products are right for you and your bike? We are available for online chat or in-person at our Irvine, California showroom. Call us toll-free at 855-765-3676, or email us at info@rokform.com, or visit us at www.rokform.com